The second-generation Prius sold 1.2 million examples in its eight-year lifespan, and the third generation, introduced in 2009, has sold 1.7 million examples in just four years.

Toyota is also touting its investment in future powertrains, some $7.9 billion on research and development into new platforms and components, and “environmental technology development.”

Toyota deserves all the credit in the world for designing a new generation of automobiles that consumes less, pollutes less. It took an enormous amount of money and willingness to stick to principles to accomplish what they have.

Might be nice if we had a few more governments willing to adopt the same standards.